Opioid Settlement and Behavioral Health Application Portal

Opioid Settlement Funding

As part of the Opioid Settlement, Forsyth County is expected to receive more than $38 million over an 18-year period. A Memorandum of Agreement between the state of North Carolina and local governments direct how opioid settlement funds are distributed and used in our state. Forsyth County has elected Option B which may involve funding strategies from the Exhibit A list, or a longer list of strategies found in Exhibit B. Funds shall be used to respond to the negative impacts of the opioid epidemic to Forsyth County residents through implementation of high-impact evidence-based strategies. Information about how opioid settlement funds can be used in North Carolina, including Option A and Option B Exhibits, is available on the NC MOA Resource Center website. Additional information about the opioid settlements is available on NC DOJ's MorePowerfulNC website and on the Community Opioid Resources Engine for North Carolina (CORE-NC). Eligible applicants must demonstrate they are able to provide the service specifications and standards set forth in this Request, shall meet criteria for Forsyth County vendors and Forsyth County contract terms, and shall meet all applicable conditions and requirements for Opioid Settlement funds.

Priority Areas for Funding

Priority areas for funding may include but not be limited to projects that address the following strategies: Treatment focused strategies

• Option A(2): Expand evidence-based addiction treatment;
• Option B(A) Treat Opioid Use Disorder (OUD);
• Support focused strategies Option A(3) Recovery support services;
• Option A(4) Recovery housing support;
• Option B(B) Support people in treatment and recovery;
• Option B(C) Connect people who need help to the help they need (connections to care);
• Prevention focused strategies Option A(6) Early intervention:
• Option B(G) Harm reduction focused strategies
• Option A(7) Naloxone distribution;
• Option A(9) Syringe service program;
• and Option B(H) Prevent overdose deaths and other harms (harm reduction).

Behavioral Health Maintenance of Effort

Behavioral Health funding is for organizations and programs that will serve the mental health, substance use, and developmental disability needs of children and adults in Forsyth County. Priority areas for funding may include but not be limited to: Projects that facilitate quicker access to services and supports, education outreach and/or training efforts, jail and/or emergency department diversion, peer support services, transitional and supported housing, transportation to treatment/appointments and other services/supports that eliminate barriers to accessing care, developmental disabilities support services, respite services, expansion of service capacity for individuals that do not speak/speak limited English, trauma focused cognitive behavioral therapy/trauma informed counseling, and psychological, substance use, evaluations & assessments.

Anticipated Funding Timeline

Project recommendations will be made to the Forsyth County Board of Commissioners. Forsyth County's mid-cycle Opioid Settlement application process will be open from Wednesday, February 7, 2024 at 12 noon through Friday, March 1, 2024 at 12 noon.

Please see below for the anticipated funding timeline.

• February 7, 2024 – March 1, 2024 Open Application Period
• June 10, 2024 Public Hearing on Proposed Budget
• June 13, 2024 Possible Adoption Date of FY25 Budget Ordinance
• July 1, 2024 - June 30, 2025 Possible term period for authorized agreements.

Please direct questions to Denise Price, Behavioral Health Services Director, at (336) 703-2781.

Application Portal